NBA Trade Talk: Steve Nash and 5 Players Who Deserve a Trade
The NBA is chock full of guys like Steve Nash, veterans who have proven themselves but are in situations beneath their talent. Nash and his type deserve trades to places where their talent won't be wasted.
Nash isn't the only guy. Chris Paul would have been a candidate for this list before he was traded to Los Angeles. Every year, elite veterans dwindle away on teams that are going nowhere.
This list is dedicated to them. Beginning with Steve Nash, here are six players who deserve trades.
Steve Nash
1 of 6It seems like a lot of people have forgotten that Steve Nash is a two-time MVP award winner and led the league in assists last season (11.4 per game).
Now, Nash is on a team that starts himself, Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Channing Frye and Marcin Gortat. Gortat is a decent talent and Hill is a solid veteran, but that's about it. All the other guys are basically shooters and nothing else.
Even though Nash has made it clear that he does not desire to be traded, that doesn't change the fact that he deserves a trade. He could be the missing piece that a championship puzzle needs.
His scoring has gone down a bit, but he can still shoot the three (37 percent this season so far) and distribute (8.7 assists per game). Teams need to be making offers for this guy, he deserves it.
Possible destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat
Grant Hill
2 of 6I know it's two Suns in a row, but this had to be said.
Grant Hill is getting old (39) and his production on the offensive end has dwindled (9.0 ppg), but he is still a very good veteran defender. At 6'8", he's bigger than most wing players which give him an advantage.
He's also a good guy, pure and simple. Character is something any team could use more of.
Possible destinations: Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors
Dwight Howard
3 of 6Dwight Howard is in his prime as a basketball player, and he deserves a trade.
Let's face it: the Orlando Magic aren't going to get any better. The Magic management has been pretty terrible in the past, trading for guys like Vince Carter and Gilbert Arenas, who can't play a lick of defense. Howard deserves to play for management who aren't willing to depend on him for the entire team's defensive effort.
Howard is a championship caliber center. He's a great defender, can score and is one of the best rebounders in the game. No one deserves a trade more.
Possible destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics
Luis Scola
4 of 6Luis Scola might be one of the most unnoticed players in the NBA. He's quietly maintained career averages of 14 points and eight rebounds per game during his four-year career.
Now in his fifth season, the Houston Rockets look no closer to fielding a contender than they ever have and Scola deserves a better situation. I'll admit that Scola can be a bit soft and that he's not the most athletic player in the world, but he's efficient (53 percent shooting this season) and has an extremely high basketball IQ.
Houston tried to trade this guy once, but Czar Stern nixed it. Here's to hoping that that wasn't Scola's last chance.
Possible destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics
Monta Ellis
5 of 6After starting 2-5, the Golden State Warriors appear to still be on the rebuilding road. Monta Ellis deserves a trade in that case.
Ellis is averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 assists per game. Those are monster numbers for a shooting guard in this league. With a younger guy like Stephen Curry there to take over, the Warriors can afford to lose Ellis.
Ellis deserves to be traded as he could start at the point or shooting guard for any number of NBA teams. He could be the scoring punch that certain contenders are looking for.
Possible destinations: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics
Chauncey Billups
6 of 6Chauncey Billups has averaged 15 points, three assists and two rebounds playing in three games at shooting guard with the Clippers. Billups is no shooting guard.
This guy deserves to be playing point guard for a championship contender. The guy has led teams his entire career and needs to lead one now. He is getting older, but his skills are still up to being a starting point guard.
Chris Paul is the better playing in LA, but "Big Shot" Billups should be playing somewhere else.
Possible destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets
